Fire-screen.



No. 65I,075. v Patented June 5, |900.

-J. HUFFMAN.

FIRE SCREEN.

(Application led Aug. 3, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented June 5, |900.

J. HUFFMAN.

FIRE SCREEN.

(Application led Aug. 3, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoModel.)

Tn: Ncnms Persns co.. Pumouwa., wAsmNmoN. n.

'UNITED STATES PATENT union.;

' JOSHUA llUFFMAN, OF NOAH, TENNESSEE.

FIRE-SCREEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.- 651,075, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed August 3, 1899. Serial lilo.y 726,028. A (No model.)

To eZ/Z whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA HUFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Noah, in the county of Coffee and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Fire- Screen, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding firescreens; and the object of the same is to improve the construction of screens and provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one adapted to be arranged at the front of an open tireplace to prevent sparks, pieces of coal, or cinders from being thrown out from the fire-bed into the compartment or room, and thereby avoid the serious consequences that ofttimes arise from ignition of objects or devices Within the compartment, and also toproduce a screen capable of being compactly arranged in a folded condition above the fireplace when not in use. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable or collapsible screen which may be quickly brought into' operative position and adapted for use in connection with lower guard devices in the form of Wings which are freely adjustable to arrange them in operative relation with the screen when down or permit their movement back or laterally over opposite sidesof the fireplace to form a protection therefor.

The present device is in the nature of an improvement ou the similardevice illustrated in Patent No. 614,867, granted to me November29,1898; and it consistsin the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is,-

a perspective view of a fireplace, showing the improved form of-foldin g screen applied thereto and illustrated in operative position. Fig.Y 2 is a transverse Vertical section of the parts shown by Fig. 1 and illustrating the screen folded and elevated above the lower portion of the fireplace. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the wing attachments. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a fireplace, showing a slightly-different form of screen applied in operative position thereto, Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the parts shown by Fig. 4, illustrating the screen folded and supported in elevated position at different levels or elevations.

Similarnumerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views. I

The numeral l designates a fold-ing screen preferably composed of rectangular sections 2, comprising a surrounding frame 3, in each instance having a covering of wire-gauze 4 or othersimilar reticulated metallic fabric. The screen shown by Figs. l and 2 is composed of two sections and that illustrated by Figs. 4 and 5 is made up of four sections, and, if desired, an intermediate or even greater number of sections may be employed, which will be regulated in accordance with the dimensions of the fireplace. In each instance also a support 5'is mounted across the upper porltion of the fireplacerand has fixed thereon at its upper termination opposite irregularlybent spring locking-arms, which stand outward and serve to hold the several screen- `sections in folded condition at an elevation above the fireplace.

TheY upper section 2y is hinged to the support 5, and, as shown by Figsl and 2, the next or lower section 2 is hinged to the upper similar section. The

. same form of movable attachment of the several sections is embodied in the construction shown by Figs. 4 and 5, and a preferred manner of movably connectingthe contiguous portions of the several sections is by means of rings 7. Onopposite side portions of the frames 3 of a part of the sections 2 outwardlyprojecting grips or handles 8 are fixed, these handles as shown in Figs. l aud 2 being on the lower section and as shown by Figs. 4 and 5 on the secondand fourth sectiousfrom the top. These handles or grips may be made of heat-non-conducting material, and `their ex- -act position on the sections to which they are lapplied will be determinable by the size of -the said sections; but it will be found that they will serve their intended purpose more yefficiently when arranged near the top of the Isections and facilitate the adjustment of the several sections in relation to the arms G and other intermediate fasteniugs that can be used at times and which will be presently described.

On each side of the lower portion of the firel place wings 9 are movably attached and comprise attaching members 10, projecting outwardly in a plane parallel with the support 5 and have outstanding members 11 at right angles thereto preferably formed with upper downwardly and outwardly inclined edges 12 to reduce the width of the outstanding members 11 adjacent the point of attachment of the upper section 2 to the said support 5. Connecting-hinges 13 are secured to the outer edge portions of the attaching members 10 and also to adjacent parts of the sides of the fireplace. To the lower part of the inner edge extremity of each outstanding member 11 an angular ear 14E is secured and has an upper notch or recess 15. The lower portions of the opposite sides of the frame 3 of the lower section 2 also have outwardly-projecting pins 1G, which are adapted to tit in the recesses 15 of the ears 14, the said ears occupying such position when the wings are operatively arranged that the pins will aline with and fall into the notches or recesses 15. A fastening for the lower portion of the screen is thus provided to prevent outward movement or swinging of the same, and when the screensections are elevated in folded condition and held under the arms (i or otherwise retained in such position the wings 9 can be swung back, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and thereby entirely clear the fireplace below the lower edge of the support 5. By permitting the wings to be turned outwardly over the lower side portions of the fireplace said portions are prevented from being smntched or covered with soot and discolored when the fireplace is open ed by elevation of the screensections. By making said wings closed they completely shield the said side portions of the fireplace from injury, as above noted, by preventing passage therethrough of any particles of combustion and also materially obstructing the injurious influence of heat directly on the said parts of the fireplace. wings set forth will also prevent sparks liying out at the ends when said wings are moved in and connected to the screen-sections. When the screen-sections are down and the wings are in operative position, the opposite ends of the frames of the said sections lie over the adjacent edges of the said wings, and a full inclosure is thereby provided, which will prevent sparks, coals, or cinders from being thrown out into the compartment in whichv the fireplace is located.

The form of screen shown by Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated as dropping straight down from the support 5, which is a position that might be desirable at times; but the wings 9 are also intended to be used in this instance and Will be proportioned relatively to the length of the entire screen, as clearly demonstrated by dotted lines. Where a large number of screensections are connected, intermediate fastening-arms 17 are used, and, as shown by Fig.

The closed form of i 4, are applied to opposite ends ofthe sectionfor instance, the next below the uppermost section. The sections below that carrying the arms 17 are folded up against said armcarrying section and held in this position to partially open up the fireplace, and also when the entire screen is held up by the arms 6 all the strain or pull on the said latter arms by a tendency of the screen-sections to drop will be resisted by the intermediate arms 17 holding part of the screen-sections together.

The screen in its different forms set forth does not materially interfere with the draft and may be compactly arranged over the fireplace to convenient position to be instantly dropped in front ofthe same. The support 5, which is located above the fireplace, is adapted by extending downward, as shown, to increase the draft and also serves to prevent the screen when in heated condition from injuring a wall or a mantel.

The several screens and the wings can be ornamented or suitably plated, and changes in the fortn, proportions, and minor details of construction other than those referred to may be resorted to, without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a support arranged over a fireplace, of a sectional foldable screen connected to said support, and lower wings over which portions of the screen are adapted to fall, said wings being movably connected at their outer edges to the lower side portions of the fireplace and adapted to be turned outwardly to permit the screen-sections to close over the fireplace.

2. In a device ofthe character set forth, the combination with a support arranged over a fireplace, a sectional foldable screen comprising members of elongated form having reticulated covers, said sections being slightly longer than the open portion of the fireplace and the upper edge of the upper section directly connected in a movable manner to the lower extremityof the said support, and the contiguous edges of the sections also movably attached, whereby the one may be' folded upwardly on the other, and closed wings having their outer edges movably attached to the side portions of the fireplace .and adapted to be turned over the latter to protect the same, or closed inwardly toward each other a predetermined distance to form e'nd closures for portions of the screen.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSHUA HUFFMAN.

Witnesses:

W. H. MOBRIDE, G. B. GREEN.

IIO 

